Kentucky learns its NCAA Tournament draw. Here’s who and where the Cats will play
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kentucky draws 7 seed in Midwest, opens vs. 10-seed Santa Clara in St. Louis.
- Win sets likely round-two game vs. 2-seed Iowa State; defense poses test.
- Two wins advance Kentucky to Chicago; Final Four in Indianapolis on April 4.
The NCAA Tournament path for the Kentucky men’s basketball team is set.
The 2026 bracket was revealed on the CBS Selection Show on Sunday evening, and the Cats will be the 7 seed in the Midwest Region, with a first-round game against 10-seeded Santa Clara set for Friday in St. Louis.
The game will be played at 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS.
Santa Clara (26-8) is coached by former UK assistant Herb Sendek, who was on the Cats’ staff at the beginning of the Rick Pitino era. The Broncos made the tournament field as an at-large team after finishing one game behind Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference standings, then losing to the Zags in the WCC Tournament title game.
If Mark Pope’s team can get past Santa Clara in the first round, it’ll most likely face 2-seeded Iowa State in a round of 32 matchup Sunday.
Iowa State (27-7) is one of the top defensive teams in the country and finished in a tie for third place in the Big 12 standings, behind Arizona and Houston. The Cyclones will play 15-seeded Tennessee State in the first round.
If the Cats can win two games and get out of the first week of the NCAA Tournament, they would advance to Chicago, where the final Midwest Region games will be played on Friday and Sunday of next week.
The 1 seed in the Midwest Region is Michigan, but Kentucky wouldn’t meet the Wolverines until the Elite Eight. That side of the region also includes 4-seeded Alabama and 5-seeded Texas Tech. The most likely Sweet 16 matchup for the Cats — if they can make it that far — would be 3-seeded Virginia, with 6-seeded Tennessee also in the Midwest Region as a potential Sweet 16 opponent.
Duke was selected as the top overall seed in the tournament field, and the Blue Devils will be the 1 seed in the East Region. Louisville is the 6 seed in that region and will play South Florida in the first round.
Arizona is the 1 seed in the West Region, and Florida will be the 1 seed in the South Region.
The Final Four will be played in Indianapolis on April 4, with the national title game set for April 6. UK has not advanced to the Final Four since 2015, and the program’s last NCAA championship came in 2012.
Last season, Pope led Kentucky to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019.
Kentucky will go into the NCAA Tournament with a 21-13 record after finishing 10-8 in the SEC and winning two games in the early rounds of the league tournament before losing to Florida — for a third time this season — in the SEC quarterfinals Friday night.
Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament opener
No. 7 seed Kentucky vs. No. 10 seed Santa Clara
What: NCAA Midwest Region
When: 12:15 p.m. ET Friday
Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis
TV: CBS
Records: Kentucky 21-13, Santa Clara 26-8
About Santa Clara
Location: Santa Clara, California
Enrollment: 9,178 (6,115 undergrad)
Nickname: Broncos
School colors: Red and white
Head coach: Herb Sendek (187-128 at Santa Clara; 600-423 overall)
Conference: West Coast Conference
NCAA berth: At-large
All-time series: Kentucky leads 1-0
Previous meeting: Kentucky won 74-60 on Dec. 19, 2006, at Rupp Arena. Randolph Morris led the Wildcats with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
Common opponents with Kentucky: Santa Clara lost at Gonzaga 89-77 on Jan. 8; at home to Gonzaga 94-86; and vs. Gonzaga 79-68 on March 10 in the West Coast Conference Tournament. Kentucky lost to Gonzaga 94-59 on Dec. 5 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Other notable games this season: Lost to St. Louis 71-70 on Nov. 27; beat Minnesota 86-75 on Nov. 28; beat St. Mary’s 62-54 on Jan. 17; lost to St. Mary’s 86-67 on Feb. 25.
This story was originally published March 15, 2026 at 6:31 PM.
